From injury-plagued start to St Mirren's main man
Toyosi Olusanya is enjoying the most fruitful season of his career. And St Mirren fans should enjoy the striker while they can as a summer exit looks likely.The 27-year-old has resisted the club's attempts to extend his contract and manager Stephen Robinson admitted in November he was fighting a losing battle to keep him. Olusanya was on the money for St Mirren again last weekend, scoring the opener in a 3-0 victory at Aberdeen to take his season's goal tally in all competitions to 11. He is the club's top marksman by a distance - Oisin Smyth is next most prolific on four goals.Olusanya's electric pace and strength are a key weapon for Robinson's side, but his Saints career has been a slow burner.He joined in summer 2022, only to suffer a catalogue of injury problems before being farmed out on loan to Arbroath. Last term - his his first full season with the Saints - the Englishman grew more impactful, netting seven goals in 42 games.This season, he has blossomed, coming up with big goals in Conference League qualifying, the Premiership and Scottish Cup.His seven goals put him at the top end of the scorer charts in the league - outside of the Old Firm, only Sam Dalby, Bruce Anderson and Simon Murray have netted more.Olusanya's shot conversion rate in the Premiership has also taken a leap from 15.4% last season to 17.1%, putting him among the top 12 players. Plus he's in the top 10 for touches in the opposition box and only two non-Old Firm players (Lawrence Shankland and Dalby) have had more. Olusanya has had 15 big chances in the league so far this term and scored seven of them. By way of comparison, recently departed Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi only scored nine from 26 chances while Daizen Maeda has five from 17. Since their return to the top flight in 2018, no St Mirren player has scored more than Jamie McGrath's 17-goal haul in season 2020-21. With nearly four months of the campaign remaining, might Olsanuya top that feat?
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Edinburgh Reporter
an hour ago
- Edinburgh Reporter
Rory Darge named as Scotland captain for Skyscanner Pacific Tour
Gregor Townsend has named his Scotland squad for the 2025 Skyscanner Pacific Tour. Rory Darge has been selected as captain for the matches against Māori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa. Darge has co-captained Scotland along with Finn Russell in the last two Guinness Six Nations championships. He will lead a squad of 36 players with a number of familiar faces returning to the group. Andy Onyeama-Christie has been selected after overcoming an ankle injury sustained in October 2024. He made his return for Saracens in March. Hooker George Turner also comes back into the fold after missing the last year of international rugby following his move to Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan. He has since signed for Harlequins next year and will aim to add to his 45 caps amassed thus far. There are three uncapped players named in the squad in the shape of stand-off Fergus Burke, back-row Alexander Masibaka and tighthead prop Fin Richardson. Burke and Masibaka were both included in the Guinness Six Nations squad, when they trained regularly with the team, and Richardson has national team experience having travelled out to Chile and Uruguay on last year's summer tour. There are eight Glasgow Warriors backs named, following their exit in the United Rugby Championship play-offs over the weekend. Toulon's Ben White is chosen for his second summer tour and Arron Reed has been rewarded with a call-up after making his debut for Scotland last July. Edinburgh Rugby's Darcy Graham, Harry Paterson and Matt Currie have been called up along with Bath's Cameron Redpath, who has sights set on the Premiership final this weekend alongside Leicester. From the two finalists, Bath's Josh Bayliss and Tigers' Cameron Henderson will also tour with the squad. After missing out on the Guinness Six Nations, Max Williamson is back in the squad after impressing against South Africa in the autumn. Alec Hepburn, Nathan McBeth and Rory Sutherland will compete for the loosehead position while Will Hurd and Elliot Millar Mills join Richardson as the tighthead options. Hookers Patrick Harrison and Ewan Ashman have been familiar figures in the squad over the last year, Harrison being one of seven players in the squad who made their debuts on the Skyscanner Americas tour last year, and they join Turner as hooking options. Marshall Sykes made his Guinness Six Nations debut in March against France and he continues in the squad where he's joined by fellow second rows Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, Henderson and the experienced Grant Gilchrist. In the back row, Matt Fagerson has been selected as he continues his recovery from injury, along with Jamie Ritchie, Ben Muncaster, Darge, Bayliss, Onyeama-Christie and Masibaka. The tour kicks off with a match against the Māori All Blacks on Saturday 5 July, and will be the first time the sides have met since 2000, when the hosts edged a narrow encounter 18-15 in New Plymouth. It will be just the third match between the Māori and Scotland with the other game coming at Murrayfield in Edinburgh in 1998. The tourists will then take on Fiji, with the match marking Scotland's first game on Fijian soil since 2017. Scotland's last match against Fiji took place in November 2024 when the home side ran out 57-17 winners, with Darcy Graham scoring four tries. The tour will finish on Friday 18 July when Scotland take on Samoa. The last time the two sides played against each other was six years ago, when Scotland won 34-0 during the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The match will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, at the historic Eden Park Skyscanner Pacific Tour: Fixtures Māori All Blacks v Scotland – Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei Saturday 5 July 2025, kick-off 3.35pm (local time, Saturday 5 July, kick-off 4.35am BST) – Live on Sky Sports. Fiji v Scotland – HFC Bank Stadium, Suva Saturday 12 July 2025, kick-off 3pm (local time, Saturday 12 July 2025, kick-off 4am BST). Samoa v Scotland – Eden Park, Auckland Friday 18 July 2025, kick-off 8.05pm (local time, Friday 18 July 2025, kick-off 9.05am BST) Broadcast details for the Fiji and Samoa games are still to be confirmed. Skyscanner Pacific Tour Squad Backs (15) Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped), Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4), Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (12), Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (46), Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (32), George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (36), Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (8), Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (140 Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (13), Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (3), Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3), Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (12), Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9), Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (23), Ben White – Toulon (29) Forwards (21) Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (27), Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (10), Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (9), Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (55), Rory Darge – CAPTAIN – Glasgow Warriors (30), Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (80), Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3), Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1), Alec Hepburn – Scarlets (4), Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (8), Alexander Masibaka –Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente (uncapped), Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (2), Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (7), Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (2), Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens (8), Fin Richardson – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped), Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (59), Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (41), Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (2), George Turner – Kobelco Kobe Steelers (45), Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (6) Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
Former Hearts star leaves Premiership club 'disappointed' as he confirms transfer
A former Hearts star is reportedly set to join a Premiership rival just weeks after claiming promotion. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hearts defender has secured a move to a Premiership rival just weeks after helping Livingston secure promotion back into the top flight. Jamie Brandon joined the Hearts academy in 2017 and went on to make 30 senior appearances after making his debut in a 2-0 defeat against Celtic. However, Brandon went on to spend the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship club Greenock Morton before penning a pre-contract agreement to join Livingston on a free transfer during the following summer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After racking up almost a century of appearances, what will now go down as Brandon's final season with Livi appeared to have ended in disappointment as they lost out to Falkirk in the race for the Championship title. However, a 5-3 aggregate win against Ross County in the Premiership play-off ensured Brandon and his team-mates had guided the club back into the top flight at the first attempt after they suffered relegation 12 months earlier. Former Hearts star linked to Kilmarnock move Speaking after a 4-2 win in the second leg at County's Global Energy Stadium secured promotion, the former Livingston captain said: 'It's been a special night and i'm ecstatic we've been able to get our club back to where we think it belongs. It's been a long season, we've played a lot of games and I think it's been excellent to come here and to put the performance in we have, it's been really special. The aim at the start of the season was to get promotion back to the Premiership, it didn't matter how we did that but to do it through the play-offs is a really special feeling and one everyone here will cherish for a long time.' However, Brandon will not make the jump with his side after Livi confirmed the versatile defender has 'decided to move on' after his contract came to an end. A post on X read: 'Jamie Brandon will depart the club on the expiry of his contract. We're obviously disappointed that Jamie has decided to move on. Jamie was instrumental last season and played a big part in our Trust Trophy & league success & leaves after huge success. Good luck, Brando!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Jamie Brandon joins Kilmarnock Speculation over Brandon's next club has ramped up in recent days with suggestions new Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell is keen to sign the 27-year-old. That deal has now been completed, Brandon penning a two year deal. Kettlewell said: 'We're delighted to sign Jamie, there have been a lot of clubs competing for his signature, so to get this over the line, we are extremely pleased. He's been a standout performer for Livingston, and he adds to the leadership qualities that we already have in abundance here. He's exactly the type of character we want at this football club, he understands the demands of Scottish football. 'Jamie fits in with the profile of players that we already have here, his addition will complement our squad. We want to build a squad with strong foundations and a real hunger to push forward. Jamie ticks all the boxes in that regard, and I'm delighted he's chosen to continue his career here at Kilmarnock.' Your next Hearts read: Hearts working to tie up two transfer targets - both men will cost a fee
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Magic Kieran Tierney moments Celtic fans want to see again including A&E dash, megaphone chats and 40 yard rockets
Hoops fans are welcoming back their hero and Record Sport looks back at the times that made the defender a favourite Celtic fans are celebrating the return of Kieran Tierney and they are hoping the rampaging fullback can pick up where he left off at Parkhead. The 28-year-old left a modern day legend five-and-a-half years ago when Arsenal made an offer the club and player couldn't refuse. But he departed having made some incredible history – and picked up a ton of silverware. There's a reason Tierney is a fans' favourite and here six of his best memorable moments as supporters prepare for more. Mega man When Hoops fans picture Tierney, there is one image that sticks in their minds more than most – the scenes with the star and the megaphone. The defender was worshiped in the stands, and no more so than by the punters packed in the standing section. They knew Tierney would more than likely be in there with them if he wasn't on the pitch. And the connection was witnessed like never before when he went into the stands to pick up a megaphone to lead the sing-song celebrations after lifting the Premiership title in 2017. He repeated the trick at Hampden after the League Cup Final win six months later and a legend was born. Tierney said: 'It was seriously like an out-of-body experience. I've got the megaphone and I'm leading the chants with people I used to actually sit in the stands with. That is fairytale stuff.' Hampden heroics Tierney wowed the punters with his displays on the pitch in his time at Celtic – but it was a huge act off it that endeared him even more to the supporters. The Scottish Cup Final in 2017 could have been a nightmare for the full back as he was forced off inside the opening few minutes after taking a hefty blow in the mouth thanks to an elbow from Aberdeen's Jayden Stockley. Tierney was whisked away to hospital while the action raged on, with docs fearing a broken jaw at worst and several smashed teeth at best. But instead of sticking on the gurney and putting the feet up, KT checked himself out and headed back to the National Stadium – where he arrived in time to see Tom Rogic's dramatic winner to clinch the invincible Treble and then take part in all the post match celebrations. Even a bloody mouth didn't hold him back. Sharp shooter Tierney's attacking displays down the left led to a ton of goals for others but he had to wait a while to open his own account. He finally hit the net on trophy day at the end of his first full campaign, as Celts rounded off with a 7-0 victory against Motherwell as boss Ronny Delia said his goodbyes. Incredibly, for a player with a wicked left peg, it was his right foot that got him up and running, as he cut inside from the flank and buried in the bottom corner. Blast from the past Tierney got into a tie habit of notching from time to time and followed that debut season with a neat header in Inverness and a thumping strike against Ross County. But there's one strike that stands out from the lot – THAT hit against Kilmarnock. KT was never shy at having a pop but not many expected him to let go when he picked up the ball 45 yards from goal. Instead, he set himself and unleashed a rocket that screamed all the way into the top corner. It was one of those goals where the cheers don't come straight away. There's almost a pause as supporters can't quite believe what they've seen – and then there was the eruption. Pittodrie powerhouse There were too many top performances to mention, with star turns in thumping wins over Rangers and class displays on an almost weekly basis. But a couple of games in the Granite City also stood out – and summed him up. In a 3-0 win at Pittodrie Tierney raced 70 yards up the pitch to get on the end of an Olivier Ntcham cutback to score. And there was another lung burster later in the game when he dashed forward and picked out Moussa Dembele. The away support will remember the later clash though when Celts were 1-0 but down to 10 men and KT went on another charge the length of the pitch before slamming into the top corner to seal the victory. Eur up to the job It was quickly clear Tierney was top notch in Scotland with his displays on a weekly basis. Yet he enhanced his reputation even further with his performances in Europe. There was a goal in a Europa League victory against RB Leipzig in Rodgers' third campaign. It was the showing against Manchester City in his first taste of Parkhead in the Champions League where he really looked the real deal. Celts went toe-to-toe with the English big guns in Glasgow and KT was one of the stars of the show. He ran at the City backline all night and defended like his life depended on it at the other end. UEFA decided Raheem Sterling had scored an own goal in the 3-3 epic, but it was all down to Tierney as he proved he was cut out to play at the very top.
